Frequently Asked Questions

How are prints delivered ?When I send prints I usually use a small, medium or large Australia post cylinder. I cushion the print between pieces of acid free tissue and gently roll before inserting into the postal tube. My postage prices are based on regular post which comes with a tracking number. The cost of postage for a small print to most places in Australia is under $10. I'm happy to accommodate the buyers specific postal requirement which may incur a small extra cost. I can also deliver to local residents if required – just contact me !At present, when you purchase through my website a small charge for postage will be incurred.

What is a lino print ?A lino print is a type of relief print most similar to wood block. The artist usually draws a design on the lino and then uses sharp v shaped tools to carve out an image with the raised (uncarved) areas representing a reversal (mirror image) of the parts to show in the print. A layer of ink is applied to the block using a roller and so the uncarved areas pick up the ink. Everything carved prints as a negative line or space. A piece of paper is place over the inked block and then pressure is applied to aid transfer from the block to the paper. Many images can be printed from the one lino block to create an edition (group) of identical prints.What is Lino ?Linoleum has been around for over a hundred years and is made up of a mixture of fine wood or cork fibres, rosin, glue and linseed oil compressed into a hessian backing. Artists such as Picasso and Matisse used it from the early 1900's

Do you offer the option of purchasing in different sizes ?No, as linoprints are not digitally printed the only way to create a different size is to commission me to do a new work.

How long do the larger images take ? ​My larger works take several hundred hours to complete. There are no short cuts to creating a detailed linoprint. Although computor programs such as photoshop have made it easier to reverse images and to zoom in and see detail. The other lino material I sometimes is called Ezy Carve and that does make cutting much easier with the disadvantage that the block is less durable.

What does A/P mean ?A /P stands for artist's proof its like a test print to see how the image looks. A/P's are a little different to the final edition. They are no less valuable than a print that is part of an edition, infact they may be more valuable as they are one of a kind.

What do the numbers mean on a print ?On the left bottom corner limited edition prints are numbered. The lower number states how may prints are in the edition (group) . Prints are numbered sequentially so if there are 20 images the first print will be 1/20 and so on.

Where does your inspiration come from ?Most of the time I create images of places that I pass regularly in the heart of Sydney's inner west and they really make an impression on me, the more I see them the more I develop an emotional connection with them. I really love pattern and texture and surfaces that speak of past histories. As a cyclist and walker I travel at a slower pace and this allows me to absorb what's around me. In nature I can often work in situ as the reversal of the image doesn't matter – that immediacy is a breath of fresh air. At other times I work conceptually as with my "Patterns in Nature" calendar, I set out to produce a series of images that were symmetrical in order to be calming to look at.

Maggie Stein

Maggie is a Sydney based artist who creates original linoprints in her Marrickville studio.View a selection of her work here or contact Maggie regarding a studio visit or commission.